“High level” violence has resulted in “scores of Palestinian and
Israeli casualties”, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle
East Peace Process told the Security Council on Monday.
Speaking via video conference from Jerusalem,
Tor Wennesland, expressed alarm over continued
demonstrations and clashes; settler-related violence; and the
firing of a rocket from Gaza into Israel, the first in months,
which he called “a
concerning reminder of the fragility” within the Palestinian
enclave.
“Mounting violence has been further fuelled and exacerbated by
provocative steps and inflammatory rhetoric”, he said, calling
for “immediate steps to lower tensions and reverse negative
trends that undermine prospects for a peaceful two-State
resolution of the conflict”.
The senior envoy drew attention to specific incidents, including
the death of two Palestinian men, a 16-year-old boy and an
Israeli settler.
Key observations
In updating the ambassadors on settlement activity and the
seizure of Palestinian-owned structures, including
internationally funded humanitarian projects, Mr. Wennesland
reminded that the Israeli Government was in “flagrant violation”
of UN resolutions and international law, and called on the
country to stop seizures and demolitions.
He said he was “gravely concerned by continuing violence against
civilians,” calling for it to stop, and for all perpetrators to
be held accountable.
The UN envoy also called recent unjustified attacks by
Palestinians and Arab-Israelis against civilians in Israel “the
deadliest in years,” stressing that they “must be clearly
rejected by all”.
“I also condemn the continued killings of Palestinians, including
children, by Israeli security forces, particularly in incidents
where they did not appear to present an imminent threat to life,”
he continued, noting that 15 Palestinian children had been killed
in the West Bank this year, compared to nine during the same
period in 2021.
Mr. Wennesland reiterated that “security forces must exercise
maximum restraint”, and only use lethal force to protect life.
Turning to the fatal shooting of journalist
Shireen Abu Aqleh, he flagged the disturbing behaviour of
some Israeli security services at her funeral and echoed the
Secretary-General’s call for an independent and transparent
investigation into her killing and for those responsible to be
held accountable.
“Journalists must never be the target of violence,” he stressed.
Political fragility
Meanwhile, the persistence of conflict drivers and absence of
political will to change course have empowered extremists and are
eroding perceptions among Palestinians and Israelis that a
lasting peace will ever be achievable, warned the Special
Coordinator.
He said it was crucial to improve Palestinian lives in Gaza, and
for Israel to ease restrictions and facilitate more economic
activity, such as better access to the Israeli labour market for
Gazan workers.
However, Mr. Wennesland acknowledged, maintaining a state of calm
in perpetuity, “is neither sufficient nor sustainable”.
“There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that
will resolve the core issues driving the conflict,” he
underscored. “I urge Israelis, Palestinians, regional States and
the broader international community to take steps that will
enable the parties to regain the path towards meaningful
negotiations and, ultimately, peace”.
Money woes
The Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis – compounded by
constraints of the occupation, the absence of serious Palestinian
reforms and unclear prospects for donor support – requires urgent
attention, according to the Special Coordinator.
“As commodity prices spike, humanitarian needs and costs are
rising” across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), he
explained, noting that the price of wheat flour has increased by
some 20 per cent in the West Bank and more than 40 per cent in
Gaza while shipping costs spiked more than 25 per cent since last
year.
An additional $36 million is required to sustain OPT operations
until the end of the year – and offset increasing costs.
Facing similar constraints, the UN Agency for Palestine refugees
in the Middle East (UNRWA) remains $100 million short.
Encouraging donors to provide the necessary financial resources
to meet the growing costs, the senior UN official argued that
assisting with basic services and humanitarian needs are not only
a humanitarian imperative, “but also vital for stability going
forward”.
